Sole and heel structure



Dec. 29,1936.

L. GROVER SOLE AND HEEL STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 28, 1956 la @matar Attornff Patented Dec. 29, 1936 SOLE AND HEEL STRUCTURE 5 Claims.

The invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and slippers, and essentially concerns what is known to and well recognized in the trade as a turned shoe or' slipper.

The invention aims to provide an inexpensive and practical shoe or slipper in which a single layer sole and a hollow heel are moulded in one piece from rubber or a composition thereof.

More particularly the invention comprehends the production of a moulded rubber sole and heel characterized by an integral fabric sewing-lip extending around the marginal portions thereof for attachment to the upper or vamp. 'Ihe formable material has the fabric attached to it in the moulding operation. A part of the fabric freely extends from the top face of the sole and the heel to provide the sewing-lip aforesaid.

The sewing-lip may extend perpendicularly from the top of the sole and the heel, or it may be angularly disposed from the margin of the sole for the purpose of its attachment to the upper in conventional manner. The sewing-lip may and will be faced or coated with rubber on the outer side in order that the fabric will not be exposed when sewn to the upper. If so desired the fabric could be impregnated with rubber or a composition thereof in lieu of the said coating or facing.

It is proposed that the heel shall be of a hollow construction so as to produce a frame or shell, Which may have a comparatively thin wall to furnish a light-in-weight structure. The heel will be reinforced by suitable means dependent upon the type or style-of shoe or slipper to which the invention is applied. In the case of a shoe a Wooden block or composition filler' may be adequately employed, while in the case of a slipper a pad would be satisfactory.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that the sole and heel can be produced in colours and embossed in various designs. Furthermore, a separate lift may be attached to the heel, while the sole is repairable in a manner well known in the art. By moulding the sole and heel in one piece there is a distinct advantage particularly with high heels as they cannot break off as is common to the conventional separate heel.

A distinctive feature of the invention also resides in moulding the sole and heel with a top lining or facing of fabric having its marginal edges unattached for the purpose of constituting the aforesaid sewing-lip, which may be coated on its outer face with rubber as previously stated.

Having described the major objects and advantages of the invention, subsidiary objects and advantages thereof will appear as the description proceeds in greater detail.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of a one piece sole and heel constructed in accordance 'with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the sole taken on line 3-3 of Figure l, and Figure 4 is a similar cross section depicting a slight modification in the sewing-lip.

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention as applied to a low heel.

Figure l is a cross section of the sole portion thereof taken on line 'I-'l of Figure 6.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention,

In carrying out the invention, a sole l0 is integrally moulded with a heel Il and an upper facing l2. The sole and heel are composed of such formable material as rubber or a composition thereof, the texture of which may vary with the type of shoe or slipper. The heel is hollow and has a comparatively thin wall so as to produce a light-in-Weight structure compatible with the required rigidity. The bottom I l of the heel constitutes a top lift, although a separate lift may be applied if so desired.

'Ihe fabric is applied in the moulding operation and preferably covers the entire top surface of the sole and the inner surface of the heel with the exception of the marginal edge i3.

The edge portion of the fabric is free of attachment at the marginal edge i3 and extends upwardly therefrom at a slight distance from the extreme edge i4 in order to provide a comparatively thin lip l5 which may be sewn to the upper or vamp so as to attach the sole and heel thereto. The single layer sole and the heel are quite flexible, consequently the shoe or slipper may be turned right side out subsequently to the sewing of the lip in the usual method of making a turned shoe or slipper.

It is proposed that the lip will have a coating of rubber on its cuter face in order not to expose the fabric in the completed shoe or slipper, which coating will also serve to make it impervious to water. If so desired the lip may be impregnated with a rubber solution for this purpose. With regard to the portion of the lip extending around the heel, this may be constructed by prolonging the fabric at the top and reducing the thickness of the rubber at the upper part of the wall I6.

Y heel space is filled in, such as by means of a pendicularly arranged.

It will be apparent that the lip could be fashioned from fabric or the like embedded in theY rubber or otherwise united with it in the mould-V ing operation. The lip may upstand from the sole or it may recline inwardly thereupon as shown in the modified form given in Figure 4.

When the upper is attached and turned, the

ller block' I7, as depicted in Figure 6. The filler block may consist of wood or other substances suitable for this purpose. Forinstance a hardening solution might be found expedient. In the case of applying a detachable top as at I8, Figure 6, the nails or other securing elements I9 may be driven into the filler block.

In the manufacture of a slipper the sole may be padded before or after it is turned In the making of a shoe or slipper Va suitable shank may be used for stilfening purposes, and likewiseA a counter maybe inserted as usual. A shoe can be'produced with the customary hard toe and a sock lining or other ller may be applied to the sole when the shoe is lasted and dried. Y It will be manifest that this invention provides a unitary sole and heel unit that is inexpensive to manufacture and serviceable in use, and one that is well adapted to the making of various Y styles and sizes of footwear common to the art.

What I claim is: Y n a K l, A sole and heel structure composed of rubber moulded into a Yunitary single-layer sole and a hollow heel having a closed bottom and an open top, the wallsVV of the heel being comparatively thin; and a textile layer extending transversely of thesole and over the inner surfaces of the Walls of the heel, thertextilealayer being secured to the upper side of the sole and to the inner side of the heel walls in the moulding operation,Y the textile layer being characterized in that the sole covering portion has its marginal extentfree of attachment and upturned from the edge portion of the sole to provide a sewing lip and the heel covering portion is continued upwardly beyond ,the normal top edge ofthe heel and therearound Yto provide arsewing lip therefor.

2. Ajsole and heel structure composed of rubber moulded into a unitary single-layer sole and `a hollow h'eel having a closed bottom and an open ness to form an extension, and a textile layer extending transversely of the sole and over the inner surfaces of the walls of the heel, the textile flayer being secured to the upper side of the sole and to the inner sides of the heel walls in the Y moulding operation, the textile layer being characterized in that the sole covering portion has its marginal extent free of attachment and upturned from the edge portion of the sole to provide a sewing lip, and the heel covering portion is continued upwardly beyond the normal height of the heel and mouldably attached to the reduced extension so as to compose a relatively flexible sewing lip that merges into the sewing lip of the sole for attachment to an upper.

3. A sole and heel structure composed of rubber moulded into a sole and integral hollow heel having a closed bottom and an open top, the side walls of the heel being comparatively thin and continued upwardly beyond the normal height of Y the heel and interiorly reduced in thickness to form an extension, and a textile layer extending .transversely over the inner surfaces of the walls walls of the heel being comparatively thin and continued upwardly beyondV the `normal height of the heel and interiorly reduced in thickness to form an extension, a textile layer extending transversely over the inner surfaces of the walls of the heel and secured thereto in the moulding operation, the textile layer being characterized in that it is continued upwardly beyondthe normal height of the heel and mouldably attached to the reduced extension vso as to compose arelatively flexible sewing lip for attachmentV to an upper, and a filler substance lodged in the heel sides of the heel walls in theV moulding operation,V

the textile layer being characterized in that the sole covering portion has its marginal extent freeY of attachment at the edge portion of the sole to provide a sewing lip and the heel covering portion is continued upwardly beyond the normal top edge of the heel so as to extend therearound to provide a sewing lip continuous with the said sewing lip of the sole portion.

LEONARD GROVER. 

